Hospitality Design - October 2014 - 50

perspectives

sketchbook

natoma cabana
> It was as simple as going back to basics for
designer Mara Passetti when she was creating
the concept for San Francisco's Natoma
Cabana, a cocktail lounge that relies on rich
woods and the building's original industrial
shell to maintain the city's vibe. "My goal was
to create a comfortable home away from home
that customers would love and want to return
to," she explains.
The building's tall ceilings helped Passetti
create a warm, sensual outdoor garden space
that offers a cabana-type feel. Intimacy is
achieved with elegant woods used throughout,
including custom redwood bench seating and
upscale outdoor furniture with plush cushions
that add comfort and invite guests to lounge.
Reclaimed wood stumps can be used as extra
seating or cocktail tables while large palm trees
and Bird of Paradise plants were brought in to
"help nurture the outdoor garden feel," she says.

The exterior, too, is a stand out. Because
the building is located in a historic alleyway
where the San Francisco Transbay Terminal
will open in a few years, Passetti
knew she needed a creative way
to make Natoma Cabana the
centerpiece of the neighborhood.
The solution: a stunning black
and white custom mural
designed by artist Ian Ross.
But the lounge wouldn't be
complete without a gateway to
the sky. A skylight takes over
the ceiling on the second floor,
offering views of the city's
skyscrapers-a perfect setting
for a cocktail, according to
Passetti.

Photos by JESSICA STOUT

best western plus
executive residency
> Extended-stay properties continue to be one of the top performing
segments of the hotel industry-$1 billion in new investment was
realized in this market in 2012 and room demand has risen for 20
consecutive years, according to management consulting firm the
Highland Group. And with owners asking for an extended-stay product,
launching the BEST WESTERN PLUS EXECUTIVE RESIDENCY
"seemed like a home run for us," says Amy Hulbert, managing director
of design for Best Western International.
Working with design firm Guild 13 out of Seattle (and market
research and owner input), Hulbert says the challenge was creating a
prototype that would be attractive financially to developers ("We did
all the purchasing in house so it's cost-effective," she points out) and
design-wise would appeal to both leisure and business travelers. The
result: A "residential feel in terms of scale, materials, and finishes,"
says Guild 13 founder Robin Holt. "The overall spirit of the design
provides a nod to the future with a timeless, contemporary aesthetic
that is comfortable and inviting."
There's an excess of green space thanks to the building's placement
in the corner of the site; artwork throughout recalls some of the design
team's childhood memories; and the double-height lobby features

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October 2014 hospitalitydesign.com

various seating options, a communal table made of solid quartz that
does double duty as a breakfast area in the morning and a workspace
and bar later in the day, front-desk pods made of stacked blocks of wood
and backed by a textural metal finished wall, and copious amounts of
windows that flood the space with natural light. Expansive windows are
also prominent in the guestrooms (which range from 330 to 565 square
feet), offered in two color palettes: cool (neutral with navy blue tones)
and warm (with copper accents).
"It's affordable luxury," says Hulbert. "It's not fancy, but it's clean
and beautiful, and both the developer and customer feel like they are
getting a lot for their money."
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Hospitality Design - October 2014

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